NHL cancels schedule through Nov. 1

In the wake of the breakdown in negotiations between the NHL and its players' union on a new collective bargaining agreement, the league on Friday canceled games through Nov. 1.

It is the second block of the 2012-13 schedule canceled since the lockout began Sept. 15. The NHL and NHLPA ended negotiations Thursday after the league rejected three proposals from the union.

Those offers followed one the NHL made Tuesday that called for a 50-50 split in hockey-related revenue and was made with the intention of settling in the next week or so to allow the season to begin Nov. 2 with a full slate of 82 regular-season games.

Friday's cancellations still allow for the possibility of starting by Nov. 2 and salvaging a full season but no talks are scheduled between the sides.

Blackhawks defenseman Steve Montador said there is still time to settle and play an 82-game season.

"If we get something done the next couple of days there still is time," said Montador, who is on the NHLPA's negotiating committee. "I never want to give up hope. We've remained steadfastly hopeful this whole time that we can get something done in the face of what appeared to be a group that did not want to negotiate along with us.

"I'm remaining hopeful but at the same time we're not going to compromise our values," Montador added.

The Hawks lost two more games off the NHL schedule, home contests against the Sharks on Oct. 27 and Coyotes on Oct. 30. That marks seven Hawks games that will not be played as scheduled. A total of 135 regular-season NHL games were scheduled for Oct. 11 through Nov. 1.